TheCable

Akintunde Akinwande, a professor, has accepted his nomination as chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the presidency said on Thursday.

His absence at the senate for screening, and his non-appearance at the Department of State Services (DSS), had led to reports that he had rejected the appointment.

But in a statement issued by Ita Enang, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters (Senate), the presidency said Akinwande was unavailable for screening because he “had not tidied up some paper work in his current job in the US”.

“May we please state that the nominee informed our office that he is a term employee of a university and he has to follow laid down procedure of the institution to obtain appropriate excuse or leave to enable him attend the screening,” the statement read.

“That the said nominee is in contact with the office of the senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters (senate).

“He has indicated his availability for the screening and interest in the offer, upon being communicated a date to appear.

“The respected senate committee on power, steel development and metallurgy was duly informed by me of the unavoidable absence of the nominee.

“There was no statement or implication of rejection by the nominee.”

He added that the the presidency liaison office in the national assembly was looking for a suitable date for Akinwande to appear for screening.

Back in July, TheCable had reported that Akinwande was President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice for the job.